I’ve realized that whenever I post it’s almost always to complain… but I’m right, damn it. 😅

Last December, I wrote a post where I ranted about the overuse of dramatic filters, tight framing, and the ultra-shallow depth of field than leaves only one eye of a person's face in focus. My issue back then was that the effect ended up overshadowing the story. And, unfortunately, it was a technique I saw everywhere from influencers to pseudo-experts on social media.

Well, now I realized there’s another problem with that aesthetic. AI learned to create photos by training on the very images we’ve long considered “professional”, smooth skin, studio lighting, dramatic colors, telephoto compression, and backgrounds dissolved into perfect bokeh. So now this aesthetic is the default look of a fabricated image.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like bokeh. I also like good film simulations which is why I shoot with Fujis. The problem arises when these tools stop being choices and start becoming credentials kinda. Blurred background? Professional. Lifted shadows and greenish blacks? Cinematic. Grain? Analog. Vignette? Tormented artist. And the whole package? Probably AI.

Maybe the time has come to return to imperfect photos... and to prioritize the captured moment over the technique.

The great thing about that camera is the built in flash/leaf shutter/ND filters allow you to take photos no camera phone would.

Though that specific hood would catch my flash in some scenarios with my 100v.

I like how my x100f I bought new on release is worth more today even with 40k on the shutter

Is there a point to your lens being a square? ive never a square lens.

My solution for AI fatigue is embracing the broken, the weird, the defect.

Shoot on film and develop it using coffee at home. Take blurry pictures. Mess with the ISO. Use a pinhole lens cap. Break all framing rules. See what happens if you tell Digikam to simulate film grain on your pristine digital image.

It’s not the lens exactly, but a little box sorta that helps block extraneous light. It’s probably square because the sensor is square.

Maybe the time has come to return to imperfect photos... and to prioritize the captured moment over the technique.

That never stopped being the priority.

Just disregard influencers, they never make your life better or easier, they just fill it with self-doubt.

i've been shooting with a kodak point and shoot for a couple of years. basically a disposable. they come out how they come out. i do a little color correction curves for clarity and that's it. i like looking at how they end up. i wish i had more money for it. i stopped being interested in digital photography when surveillance became the primary use of photography about 10 years ago.

Ok cool, thank you! Its a nice camera.